𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱, 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 – The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) and Air University (AU) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance cybersecurity research, training, and professional development in Pakistan. The signing ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives, including Dr. Haider Abbas, TI, DG National CERT; Mr. Khurram Javed, Director Capacity Building; Mr. Altaf Ur Rehman, Director Labs; Dr. Muhammad Yousaf, Director Incident Management; and Mr. Syed Imran Haider, Training Manager from National CERT. Air University was represented by Air Marshal Abdul Moeed Khan, HI(M), Vice Chancellor; Dr. Ammar Masood, Acting Dean, FCAI; and Air Cdre (R) Fawad Zahir, Director ORIC.

This strategic partnership is set to drive innovation and capacity-building in cybersecurity through a collaborative approach. By leveraging AU’s advanced human resources and development labs, the alliance aims to create tailored cybersecurity solutions to meet national needs. National CERT will play a pivotal role in facilitating R&D activities, offering specialized training programs and certifications through the National Cyber Security Academy (NCSA).

Key components of the collaboration include organizing workshops and seminars to enhance cybersecurity awareness and knowledge sharing among students and professionals. Structured internship programs, aligned with industry standards, will provide AU students with practical exposure and potential employment opportunities. Furthermore, National CERT will support AU in developing a robust cybersecurity curriculum and commercially viable final-year projects. Both parties are committed to continuous knowledge exchange to ensure the adoption of best practices and emerging trends in cybersecurity.

This partnership underscores the shared vision of National CERT and Air University to strengthen Pakistan’s cybersecurity ecosystem. By integrating academic excellence with practical expertise, the alliance aims to cultivate a highly skilled workforce capable of addressing evolving cyber challenges. It also highlights the importance of academic-industry collaborations in building a secure digital future.